ABRFC Forecast Precipitation

Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts (QPF) are predictions of precipitation amounts over an area. The ABRFC normally creates QPF forecasts for the Arkansas-Red Basin three times per day (00z, 12z, and 18z). The ABRFC also creates an additional QPF forecast at 06Z, when staffed overnight for flooding or heavy rainfall. Depending on the season, six-hour increments for the next 18 or 30 hour period are used as an input into the ABRFC hydrologic model. ABRFC uses 18 hours of QPF during the warm season (March 15 - October 15) and 30 hours of QPF during the cool season (October 15 - March 15) for forecasting river stages.